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Rakta dhatu is a body component similar to blood tissue. Its important function is to give life or maintain vitality(jivana). Body fluid (rasa dhatu) after acquiring  ‘red’ color is termed as “rakta”(blood).<ref>Available from http://namstp.ayush.gov.in/#/sat</ref>(SAT-B.429)

Rakta dhatu is a body component similar to blood tissue. Its important function is to give life or maintain vitality(jivana). Body fluid (rasa dhatu) after acquiring  ‘red’ color is termed as “rakta”(blood).<ref>Available from http://namstp.ayush.gov.in/#/sat</ref>(SAT-B.429)

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|data6 = June 18, 2020

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==Etymology and derivation==

==Etymology and derivation==

*'''Rudhira''': The term is derived from root ‘rudh’ meaning to stop or hold. The blood tissue sustains the life of human beings, hence it is called ‘rudhira’’.  [Su. Sam. Sutra Sthana 14/39]

*'''Rudhira''': The term is derived from root ‘rudh’ meaning to stop or hold. The blood tissue sustains the life of human beings, hence it is called ‘rudhira’’.  [Su. Sam. Sutra Sthana 14/39]

*'''Lohita''': The term indicates the coppery red color of blood. [Su. Sam. Sutra Sthana 14/5]

*'''Lohita''': The term indicates the coppery red color of blood. [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 14/5]

*'''Asrik/Asra''': The term is derived from Sanskrit root ‘ashukshepane, srijvisarge'. It means to get ejected or expelled out. This synonym is used in the context of excessive bleeding. E.g.asrigdara(menorrhagia), asrapitta/raktapitta(bleeding disorders)

*'''Asrik/Asra''': The term is derived from Sanskrit root ‘ashukshepane, srijvisarge'. It means to get ejected or expelled out. This synonym is used in the context of excessive bleeding. E.g.menorrhagia(asrigdara), bleeding disorders(asrapitta/raktapitta)

*'''Kshataja''': It means that which originates from trauma (kshata) or wound/ulcer (vrana).

*'''Kshataja''': It means that which originates from trauma (kshata) or wound/ulcer (vrana).

The Rakta dhatu is constituted with the dominance of [[agni mahabhuta]] and all other [[mahabhuta]].  It possesses properties like peculiar smell (vistrata), liquidity(dravata), red color(raga), pulsation(spandanam) and lightness to get circulated (laghuta) due to [[Prithvi]],[[ jala]],[[teja]], [[vayu]] and [[akasha mahabhuta]] are spectively. [Su.Sa. Sutra Sthana 14/9]

The Rakta dhatu is constituted with the dominance of [[agni mahabhuta]] and all other [[mahabhuta]].  It possesses properties like peculiar smell (vistrata), liquidity(dravata), red color(raga), pulsation(spandanam) and lightness to get circulated (laghuta) due to [[Prithvi]],[[ jala]],[[teja]], [[vayu]] and [[akasha mahabhuta]] are spectively. [Su.Sa. Sutra Sthana 14/9]

Rakta dhatu is neither too hot nor too cold(anushna-sheeta), sweet (madhura), unctuous (snigdha), red(rakta), heavy(guru), with peculiar smell (vistra).It can get affected by the same substances that provoke [[pitta dosha]].[Su. Sam. Sutra Sthana 21/17]

Rakta dhatu is neither too hot nor too cold(anushna-sheeta), sweet (madhura), unctuous (snigdha), red(rakta), heavy(guru), with peculiar smell (vistra).It can get affected by the same substances that provoke [[pitta dosha]].[Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 21/17]

==Formation and metabolism of rakta dhatu==

==Formation and metabolism of rakta dhatu==

During the process of metabolism and formation of rakta dhatu, tendons(kandara) and veins(sira) are formed as the metabolic byproducts(upadhatu).[Cha. Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 15/17]. Sharangadhara opines menstrual blood([[artava]]) as the metabolic by-product.  

During the process of metabolism and formation of rakta dhatu, tendons(kandara) and veins(sira) are formed as the metabolic byproducts(upadhatu).[Cha. Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 15/17]. Sharangadhara opines menstrual blood([[artava]]) as the metabolic by-product.  

[Sharangadhara Sa. Purvakhanda chapter 5]

[Sha. Sa. Purva khanda chapter 5]

Various pigments and acidic secretions are formed as waste during this process. These are termed as malarupa [[pitta]].[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 15/5]

Various pigments and acidic secretions are formed as waste during this process. These are termed as malarupa [[pitta]].[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 15/5]

*sour and pungent food

*sour and pungent food

*kulatha (Dolichosbiflorus Linn.)  

*Dolichosbiflorus Linn. (kulatha)  

*masha (Phaseolus mungo Linn.)

*Phaseolus mungo Linn. (masha)

*nishpava (Dolichos lablab Linn.)

*Dolichos lablab Linn. (nishpava)

*tila taila (Sesamum indicum Linn. oils)

*Sesamum indicum Linn. oil (tila taila)

*pindalu (Randiauliginosa DC.)

*Randiauliginosa DC.(pindalu)

*radish and all green (leafy) vegetables

*radish and all green (leafy) vegetables

! Rasa (taste)  !!Effect  

! Rasa (taste)  !!Effect  

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| Sour(amla rasa) || Vitiates blood (raktamdushayati)

| Sour(amla rasa) || Vitiates blood (raktam dushayati)

|-

|-

| Salty(lavana rasa) || Increases volume(raktamvardhayati)

| Salty(lavana rasa) || Increases volume(raktam vardhayati)

|-

|-

| Pungent (katurasa ) || Breaks the blood clots/anti-coagulant (shonitasanghatambhinatti)  

| Pungent (katurasa ) || Breaks the blood clots/anti-coagulant (shonitasanghatam bhinatti)  

|-

|-

|Bitter (tiktarasa)|| Depletes the quantity of blood by absorbing fluid portion(raktamshoshayati)

|Bitter (tiktarasa)|| Depletes the quantity of blood by absorbing fluid portion(raktam shoshayati)

|-

|-

|Astringent(kashaya rasa)|| Pacifies vitiated blood (Raktaprashamana)

|Astringent(kashaya rasa)|| Pacifies vitiated blood (Raktaprashamana)

In contemporary physiology, red coloured fraction of blood is considered as rakta dhatu. The colourless fluid (plasma) is considered as rasa dhatu. Thus, rasa and rakta together form “blood”. The red fraction or red blood corpuscles are referred to as rakta dhatu in this article.  

In contemporary physiology, red coloured fraction of blood is considered as rakta dhatu. The colourless fluid (plasma) is considered as rasa dhatu. Thus, rasa and rakta together form “blood”. The red fraction or red blood corpuscles are referred to as rakta dhatu in this article.  

===Composition:===

===Composition:===

Blood is a complex liquid tissue composed of different types of cells. The plasma which represents the matrix of this tissue constitutes over 55% of it. Formed elements that are suspended in the liquid matrix constitute over 45% of blood, these comprise of erythrocytes,leukocytes, and platelets.<ref name=dwaraka>Dwarkanath C. Introduction to Kayachikitsa. Chaukhambha Orientalia. Varanasi; 1996. Third edition.pg.343</ref> The characteristic color of blood is due to the erythrocytes present in it. These cells are formed in the red born marrow and they survive for about 80 days in circulation and then disintegrate. Their debris is removed from the blood by liver and spleen.<ref name=dwaraka></ref> Ranjaka pitta which gives color to rakta may be considered as the ayurvedic analogue of the red cobalt linked enzyme B12 present in the liver.

Blood is a complex liquid tissue composed of different types of cells. The plasma which represents the matrix of this tissue constitutes over 55% of it. Formed elements that are suspended in the liquid matrix constitute over 45% of blood, these comprise of erythrocytes,leukocytes, and platelets.<ref name=dwaraka>Dwarkanath C. Introduction to Kayachikitsa. Chaukhambha Orientalia. Varanasi; 1996. Third edition.pg.343</ref> The characteristic color of blood is due to the erythrocytes present in it. These cells are formed in the red born marrow and they survive for about 80 days in circulation and then disintegrate. Their debris is removed from the blood by liver and spleen.<ref name=dwaraka></ref> Ranjaka pitta which gives color to rakta may be considered as the ayurvedic analogue of the red cobalt linked enzyme B12 present in the liver.<ref> Dwarkanath C. Introduction to Kayachikitsa. Chaukhambha Orientalia. Varanasi; 1996. Third edition.pg.330</ref>

===Color: ===

===Color: ===

==Current researches ==

==Current researches ==

Hematop*oietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative modality for a wide variety of hematologic disorders. Early survival after HSCT is dependent on the occurrence of hepatic, cardiac, and pulmonary complications.  This depicts the role of blood as origin in the formation of these organs during embryonic life as mentioned above. More research on this topic can open new avenues in the field of tissue engineering.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative modality for a wide variety of hematologic disorders. Early survival after HSCT is dependent on the occurrence of hepatic, cardiac, and pulmonary complications.<ref>Kim BK, Chung KW, Sun HS, Suh JG, Min WS, Kang CS, et al. Liver disease during the first post-transplant year in bone marrow transplantation recipients: retrospective study. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2000;26:193–7</ref> This depicts the role of blood as origin in the formation of these organs during embryonic life as mentioned above. More research on this topic can open new avenues in the field of tissue engineering.

===Future scope of research:===

===Future scope of research:===

Considering views about the physiology of blood formation and maturation, the role of adipose tissue in marrow (saraktameda and [[majja]]), its connection with liver and spleen need to be explored. This can open a new window in the treatment of diseases due to blood vitiation like skin diseases and bleeding disorders.  

Considering views about the physiology of blood formation and maturation, the role of adipose tissue in marrow (saraktameda and [[majja]]), its connection with liver and spleen need to be explored. This can open a new window in the treatment of diseases due to blood vitiation like skin diseases and bleeding disorders.  

Shonitavarnaniya Adhyaya[Su. Sam. Sutra Sthana 14]

Shonitavarnaniya Adhyaya[Su. Sam. Sutra Sthana 14]

=== External links ===

=== External links ===

=== Abbreviations ===

=== Abbreviations ===

*SAT = Standard Ayurveda Terminology  

*SAT = Standard Ayurveda Terminology  

*Cha. = Charak  

*Cha. = Charak  

*Su. = Sushruta

*Su. = Sushruta  

*Sha. =Sharangadhara

*Sha. =Sharangadhara

*Sa. = Samhita

*Sa. = Samhita

==References==

==References==